It has been an “incredible” year for Bombay-based vocalist Madhubanti Bagchi. “It has been one of the most fruitful and life-changing years, in terms of my work, since the time I started singing professionally,” smiles Madhubanti, soaking in the praise coming her way for the song Jhand Ba from the Janhvi Kapoor-starrer Good Luck Jerry.
What’s been the best compliment that you have received so far for the song Jhand Ba?
There are two versions of the song, a sad version and the main version .... a lot of people have really loved the sad version. When we recorded both the versions in the studio, the director wasn’t there. And when I met the director later he said that he could not believe that both these versions were sung by the same person. He said that it was a lot of range to cover. That was a cool compliment that I got for the song. I have got really good feedback from colleagues, peers and listeners.
What was your first reaction when you got to know about this song that you’ll be singing for Good Luck Jerry?
I did not know that this song was for a film called Good Luck Jerry. I knew there was a song that Parag (composer) had asked me to sing. I knew that it was going to be a good song.
The song opens the film and sets the tone for what’s in store. The song rides on contrasts... it talks about negotiating the hardships of life, the ‘potholed roads of life’ and then it also says life goes on. It has an upbeat vibe by the end. What are your thoughts on the lyrics of the song, and what it has to say?
Raj Shekhar is one of my most favourite contemporary lyric writers that I have been working with. He has a quirky sense of humour. The song is basically about making fun of yourself for having a crappy life. If you are going through a lot of hardships or turmoil, you get so immune to it that you start laughing at it. This song is actually from that perspective where you know that you are in deep shit and you are laughing about it. It is in that space and Raj Shekhar has done a tremendous job without overdramatising it. You cannot define this album within the Bollywood parameters.
You sing it with a lot of abandon, and give it an emotional depth, which is really endearing. How did you approach the song?
We had a lot to work on regarding the singing. Parag has been working with A.R. Rahman sir for quite some time, and he is a fantastic singer as well. He has a very specific idea about what kind of singing he wants. And a singer’s job is pretty much like an actor’s job. We are vessels of communication. The composer wants to communicate to the audience through his music, and as a singer I am a vessel who is supposed to carry out what my composer is saying. I believe I have tried to do just that because the song has a retro beginning and when the next verse comes that has a very different kind of singing. The antara is more contemporary. But I have sung the first verse in a gimmicky retro way, which Parag was very specific about. Also there was emoting in the right places... since it is not a sad song you could not carpet one kind of emotion. It is almost like a dialogue that you are delivering. It is musically difficult to deliver. A lot of singing capability is required in the song. It is like a soliloquy in tune. And we could not overdramatise in a cringe way. We had to hit the perfect sweet spot.
Janhvi Kapoor in ‘Good Luck Jerry’
How did you work on the dialect?
This is the only song on the album that has a Bihari dialect. The dialect was very important. Rajji actually helped me out with it. It is a very specific dialect.
How challenging was the recording process? What did you keep in mind while recording it?
The recording process was challenging because this was not really a song. It was more like a dramatic dialogue. I had to be really conscious of what I was doing. The sad version kind of has my natural tone. But the main version was different. I had to manoeuvre and reach that tone. Another challenge was to maintain the tone throughout the song. I had to remember and maintain that.
How was the process of collaboration with music director Parag Chhabra?
The process of collaboration is really interesting. Different people have different styles of working. Some will send a track and ask me to record on top of it or some will call me to a studio to record. With Parag, it is an extensive process. He is very specific about what he wants and that is an incredible quality. His conviction takes the song a long way. I feel very privileged to actually see him work. He is a very good producer, composer and singer, so he already knows what is going to come later. He has a lot of clarity.
The song says, ‘Life is taking you for a ride’. Could you relate to it at any level?
All of us can relate to it at some level or the other. The day I was called for the first recording I laughed for five minutes. I was having a tough day and I was like, ‘You guys really called the right person for this song!’ We are not wallowing in self-pity... it is like, shit is going to be thrown at you, you have to evade it or if it hits you, you have to clean it off your shirt and walk forward again. That’s the approach. We all have to go through that.
How has the year shaped up for you?
This year has seen a lot of changes in me. I have changed my approach towards my work, I have become way more proactive than before. I have composed quite a few songs. I am learning to produce my own music. I am taking baby steps and even those steps are important. I have worked with a lot of amazing people this year. It is also a test of my patience. I am a very impatient person. If you are impatient, then it keeps you on your toes, and you are always hungry for the next thing. But that impatience can sometimes become very frustrating. Because no matter how much you want, things are not going to go your way. So I am still trying to strike a balance. Sometimes it becomes irritating for me. Something else is happening somewhere for which my release gets delayed. Then I get very anxious.
What have been the high points?
There are a lot of high points. Being a part of Coke Studio was one of them. Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali (for an album) was another high point. My first Bengali single released... I worked on the video... I learnt so much. Everybody helped so much.
How is life in Bombay now?
Life in Bombay is even more hectic. The more you prepare yourself for work, the more work will come to you. I am very fortunate, I feel I am extremely lucky to be working with so many great people. And constantly, the circle is increasing. I am doing more work as a singer and also as a composer. I also composed a song for a short film. It is incredibly busy and very fulfilling. A lot of amazing songs are about to release soon. Even I am waiting for them. As long as I am waiting, I am trying to create music of my own. I am trying to make music that I am not getting the opportunity to sing. I am trying to make all sorts of different kinds of music, and make myself sing, because I just love singing!